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Education is key to dismantle the cycle of poverty, says Minister Toussaint

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Date:
October 17, 2019

Domain:Social Security
Persona:
Citizen; Government

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GIS – 17 October, 2019:The critical role that education plays to help the new generation to break the cycle of poverty, was highlighted, this morning, by the Minister of Youth and Sports and acting Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, Mr Stephan Toussaint, during a ceremony held to mark International Day for the eradication of Poverty 2019, in Port-Louis.

The event which is an initiative of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), also comprised of an award ceremony for beneficiaries of the Social Register of Mauritius who have followed various training courses. Moreover, some beneficiaries gave testimonials on various empowerment opportunities and housing support that the NEF had provided to them.

In his address, Minister Toussaint lauded the achievement made by the NEF in its mission of empowering the downtrodden to improve their life chances. The key objective of alleviating poverty by laying the foundation for the social progress and widening the circle of opportunities underpins the various governmental endeavours such as the provision of social housing, training and placement schemes, and empowerment schemes, he said.

Education, the Minister pointed out, can significantly help the vulnerable members of the society to dismantle intergenerational poverty.He urged parents to encourage and support their children to persevere in this sphere. Government, he underlined, is providing huge opportunities for the young generation to thrive academically by providing free education, school materials, and other technical assistance.

Moreover, the Minister observed that those who are unable to succeed in the academic field can turn to the professional field for which various trainings are being offered. He urged parents to ensure the proper upbringing of their children in a healthy environment and to inculcate in them the values of discipline, hard work and determination which are key values that should be nurtured to achieve success in any sphere of life.

Minister Toussaint highlighted that this year’s theme “Acting together to empower children, their families and communities to end poverty”, stresses on the need for everyone to join efforts to alleviate this social ill and to empower each other. The Minister emphasised that along with Government’s relentless effort to provide assistance to the vulnerable, it is equally crucial for everyone to step up their personal efforts to strive to acquire financial stability and independence.